1 of 2 sheep wandering since June near Windsor expressway has been caught

One of two sheep found roaming near traffic on the E.C. Row Expressway since mid-June has been caught, according to the animal sanctuary that has been spearheading the effort to capture them.

Charlotte's Freedom Farm founder Lauren Edwards told CBC Windsor one of the sheep was caught on Wednesday morning and transported to the sanctuary.

"Poor guy's just been running for six weeks. He's been scared and running kind of for his life. So he's decompressing right now in the barn," Edwards said.

Volunteers found the sheep in a pen trap around 10 a.m. ET, she said.

Edwards said the pen trap was in an area with trees north of the E.C. Row Expressway near the eastbound Dougall Avenue ramps.

The pen trap had been replenished with grain, fresh water and salt licks, she said.

'Just a baby'

The second sheep has yet to be found but volunteers will turn their attention to locating the animal, Edwards said.

The pair were originally estimated to be about six months old and 40 to 50 pounds each, according to Edwards. 

But on Wednesday, Edwards said the sheep that was found is much smaller than originally thought, and now estimates its age around six months. 

"Just a baby," she said.

"I think he's feeling very stressed right now.... They're herd animals. Not having other herd animals around, he's been living in a complete state of fear for weeks."

The animal sanctuary has been trying to locate and rescue the two sheep, with dozens of volunteers making numerous trips out to the area.

A dash-cam video posted to a popular Windsor social media group on June 17 shows a sheep in the middle of the expressway with traffic on the road.

Edwards said most of the sightings of this sheep have been on the shoulder of the expressway, where fast-moving vehicles would whizz by.

"It's been a stressful, stressful time for him," she said.

The other sheep was spotted on Wednesday as well. It has gotten through the highway's fence and is in a relatively safer, bushy area.

Captured sheep to be quarantined

The sheep is being quarantined and will undergo blood work and receive a vet check as well as vaccines, Edwards said. The sheep, which is male, will then become part of the Charlotte's Freedom Farm sheep family.

"We're just really looking forward to the day that he can join the other sheep and just calm down and realize that he's safe and nothing bad is is going to happen to him now," Edwards said.

Edwards said they've not yet decided on a name for the captured sheep. They are thinking of creating a social media post and asking the public to choose a name.

Volunteers have been saying the sheep should have a speed-related name, like Speedy or Bolt, she said.